Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership - free training for adults and children in biodiversity surveys

[marian farrell]

FREE  OPAL SCIENCE TRAINING

14^TH, 21^ST AND 28^TH April (Book for 1,2 or 3 dates)

3.30pm – 5.00pm

RAPID Training Centre, Killaloo

 

OPAL is coming to Faughan Valley on Tuesday 14, 21 and 28^th April to train teachers, forest school educators and wildlife club leaders in the use of OPAL resources for the surveys listed below.  These resources can be used by Key Stage 3 or adapted for teaching science to primary school children. The surveys can easily be carried out in the school environment and are great for helping children to explore their local environment and for developing observation and recording skills, literacy and numeracy.

 

By participating in the training you will receive all the resources you will need to complete the surveys. If your class completes one survey it is possible to achieve a Crest Discovery Award for each child, completing surveys will also gain credit towards Eco Schools Flags.  The survey field notebooks and identification guides are free to download from the OPAL website at www.opalexplorenature.org

 

Bugs count survey – which invertebrates are brave enough to live near human habitats?
Tree health survey – carry out a tree health check.  Learn what does tree disease look like.
Biodiversity survey – just who eats what in your local hedgerows?
Water survey – learn what lives in the local pond or stream and what does that tell us about water quality.
Air survey – how clean is your air? How to identify any bio-indicators such as lichens or tar spots.
Soil and earthworm survey – all you need to know about soil property and worm identification.

 

What is OPAL?

 

OPAL Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) is a community-focused education and research programme about the environment. The basic concept is to engage schools and the public in environmental research and outdoor learning, to inspire exploration and a better understanding of the places where people live and work. The OPAL project began in England in 2007, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and lead by Imperial College London in partnership with museums, Universities and environmental organisations. Free user-friendly survey packs are available to carry out scientific research in your own school grounds or nearby Park.  Surveys can include topics such as bugs, air pollution and biodiversity.

 

In early 2014, the Field Studies Council and the School of Education, Queens University Belfast became delivery partners for OPAL in Northern Ireland. The key focus in Northern Ireland is to encourage pupils, summer camps, youth groups to complete surveys in or near their school or home.  

 

To book please contact Annie Mullan

Tel: [phone] email: [e-mail]

 

Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership involves a working partnership between RAPID, Derry City Council and the Woodland Trust supported by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), ‘Landscape Partnerships’. 

www.faughanvalley.com